On the verge...

P

PembsA3

Registered User
Joined
May 19, 2013
Messages
284
Reaction score
73
Points
28
Location
NULL
...of putting my order in. It's been 18 months since my new 8P SB S-Line Quattro 170 was delivered - damaged... After three weeks of upset and heated letter writing I managed to reject the car and got a full refund. Instead of re-ordering an identical replacement I decided to delay and wait for the 8V in comparable spec. Unfortunately, in their wisdom, Audi have decided not to offer their most powerful diesel engine with Quattro and a manual box. As there is also no prospect of them offering the 150ps engine/manual with Quattro I am now seriously considering the 184ps Quattro S-tronic. I'm waiting on a final decision test drive but everyone has convinced me to overcome my anti-auto prejudices and go with the S-tronic. So, all being well this is what I am going to order:

Sport back S-Line 184 Quattro S-tronic
Daytona Grey
Comfort Pack
LED headlights
Heated front seats
Hold assist
Audi sound system
Panoramic sunroof
Non smoking pack
Interior light pack
Delete model/engine tech badges
Reversible load floor mat

Comments? Have I missed anything?!!!..
 
Hi Pembs,

lovely spec wish mine had all that.

The only thing i would add is SD sat nav, such an excellent affordable nav, and probably delete the non-smoking pack (this deletes the cool cup holder ash tray (£50 to buy) and you can still plug 12V gear in there) and remove the reversible floor mat, not hearing great things about that, probably just buy an accessory boot liner instead.

And folding mirrors, these fold with central locking, and dip down on reversing, for £150 a bargain.

My TDIQ drives like a dream, totally over the moon with her, the s-tronic just complements the whole experience, and for great performance stick her in Dynamic and Sport, she'll be at 100 before you know it. ;)
 
That's interesting advice - thanks for that. I hadn't thought about the mirrors... Hmmm... Good news about the driving experience. No-one has said anything negative about S-tronic yet either... I might be converted yet!
 
I would have loved the s-tronic myself, but couldn't stretch that far.. Still will be very happy with the 184 Manual!
 
Looks a nice specced car

My current A1 has stronic, and I really like it, much more than I thought I ever would. For both lazy driving, and also flappy paddles for the fun bits every so often, not sure I could actually go back to manual.

I dont have my car yet, but items I added to my order after reading hints here are:
Mirrors (as TDI suggets)
Tyre sensor for a little bit of safety
electric lumbar support (apparantly the car doesnt have a manual support, but I cant confirm, and also cant say if you would even need this youself)
parking system plus (you get a nice picture on the screen and has front and back sensors shown visually with indicators).

There will be some mixed opinions on what people want, In that I dont have my car yet, my opinion is a little less valuable than others, who actually are lucky enough to have their new A3s

Id love a picture of the reversable boot if somebody has one, I have it on my order, but I have heard mixed opinions.

Out of interest Pembs what have you been driving while waiting to order a new car?
 
Last edited:
That will be a nice car Pembs, I am biased but good colour choice ;)
I would agree with everything TDI said, definitely keep the smoking pack. Folding mirrors are a must for car parks. I would also recommend HHA for the money. I haven't seen anyone else on here with it but I really like the reversing cam, i never use the rear view while parking anymore ;)
 
The 184 Quattro is a genuinely good car. Fast, quick to respond to your foot and it's a perfect match for the s tronic gear box! The s tronic by the by is miles better than anything else I've experienced in this sector, especially compared to the new merc a class!

Good spec too! My only addition would be the b&o, which is by far the best sound system I've heard in a car! I'd recommend you go have a listen for yourself to experience it first hand. I have a feeling you might kick yourself if you have a listen after you've made the order and realise just how special it is.
 
Nice spec. I would second the folding mirrors, great value and really handy, had on last 2 cars and are great. The rest you have all my favourite kit inc Pano roof which is my personal favourite.
 
For the price you would be stupid not to have HHA and folding mirrors and comfort pack is pure VFM ......everything else is purely personal preference.
 
HHA is in the list already, as is comfort pack!
 
Thanks everyone for your input... Looks like I'll be reviewing my choices before heading back to the dealer... I did have Bose in the 8P and it was great but I'm not sure id notice the upgrade from the Audi sound system to B&O, and is it worth 500 notes extra?... I have to say tho that I will miss my 'stopgap' car - I had to buy something quick when I lost my 8P... I bought a 2003 MkIV Golf V6 4motion. It has been brilliant. One owner, immaculate and totally reliable. Old yes but fast, grippy and that engine makes a beautiful noise...
 
cemerson said:
I have reversing cam!
Click to expand...

Sorry I didn't realise. It's great isn't it :D you never see anyone talking about it on here!
As I don't have a driveway it gives me complete confidence, the guide lines it gives has even helped me so far from scuffing my beautiful wheels ;)

View attachment 20793

OK that's not my parking skills in the pic lol that's how the dealer parked it on collection day ;)
 
Yeh, still working out exactly where the wheels sit in the picture (just inside the lines seems to be the answer which is good!) and getting used to it, but it's very useful. All the rain yesterday meant that my image was a massive water drop in the middle though so not so good then, but a good addition anyway! Not yet tried it for reversing up to a trailer - if you press the top right control button it changes modes (from bay parking - the default - to parallel parking mode), and one of mine is 'towing' mode, which puts a single orange line to line up the hitch and distance markers. I should fit the towbar and see if its visible in the image, but I think it will be.
 
cemerson said:
Yeh, still working out exactly where the wheels sit in the picture (just inside the lines seems to be the answer which is good!) and getting used to it, but it's very useful. All the rain yesterday meant that my image was a massive water drop in the middle though so not so good then, but a good addition anyway! Not yet tried it for reversing up to a trailer - if you press the top right control button it changes modes (from bay parking - the default - to parallel parking mode), and one of mine is 'towing' mode, which puts a single orange line to line up the hitch and distance markers. I should fit the towbar and see if its visible in the image, but I think it will be.
Click to expand...

Yes found the parallel parking and bay parking modes. Saw the tow hitch mode (having just spent 2 weeks in a caravan watching people trying to hitch up) I thought what an excellent idea! Knowing the angle of the cam and the view of the bumper I think it will be a piece of cake :D
Yes wheels are just inside the yellow lines ;)
When parallel parking the shaded box's show you the size of the car allowing for manoeuvring space so you know if you will fit ok before you start, then you even have the guide line telling you when to give opposite lock, brilliant.
Obviously as a man parking is in the jeans ;) but I know when the Mrs is parking it gives her the confidence the wheels will be ok :D
 
I never use the parallel parking mode though, as I just press the 'park me' button in mine and it does it all :p The auto bay parking I have a bit more trouble with - works fine for rows of cars with single gaps I think but if there are multiple spaces in a row, or a space between a car and a wall that are different depths - it gets confused! Tried it yesterday to get into a space and it refused to recognise it. Reversing camera to the rescue though :p
 
I'd add the tyre pressure warning. It's cheap, could be a good safety feature, and would pay for itself if it saves you ruining a repairable tyre by warning you early enough.

I've got aluminium roof rails on mine, but that's just because I liked the look - personal taste may differ!

I'm not convinced by the reversible boot mat. I've got it, and it could be good when the seats are folded on a trip to the tip, but it's quite heavy, doesn't fit well with the boot floor lowered, and it's awkward to take in/out or lift the boot floor with it in place.

SD Nav seems good so far and integrates well with the rest of the car's computers.
 
AJB said:
I'd add the tyre pressure warning. It's cheap, could be a good safety feature, and would pay for itself if it saves you ruining a repairable tyre by warning you early enough.

I've got aluminium roof rails on mine, but that's just because I liked the look - personal taste may differ!

I'm not convinced by the reversible boot mat. I've got it, and it could be good when the seats are folded on a trip to the tip, but it's quite heavy, doesn't fit well with the boot floor lowered, and it's awkward to take in/out or lift the boot floor with it in place.

SD Nav seems good so far and integrates well with the rest of the car's computers.
Click to expand...

Any chance you can post some pics of the boot mat? I've got a dog and trying to find the best was to stop his hair getting into everything.
 
Dylock said:
Any chance you can post some pics of the boot mat? I've got a dog and trying to find the best was to stop his hair getting into everything.
Click to expand...
Not quite sure when I'll get a chance to do that as the mat isn't in the car right now, and I'm a bit booked up for the next few days.

Would you be folding the seat down for the dog? If so, then I'd say the reversible mat would be great. If not, then I'd probably get one of the foam or plastic liners instead.

The issue for me is that I hardly ever fold the seats down, but might often want the boot floor in the lower setting or want access to the space under the boot floor (I'm keeping some tools next the the spare wheel). With the boot floor in the high setting, the reversible mat is just fine (although heavy, so the floor doesn't stay up on the latches if I raise it to get access for tools etc).
On the low setting, the mat curves up around the plastic corners at the seat hinges so doesn't sit flat.

Because it fits perfectly in the raised setting and is heavy, with quite "grippy" beading at the edge, it can be awkward to lift the mat in/out to raise/lower the boot floot.

It's basically nice quality carpet one side, rubbery material the other side, exactly double the size of the raised boot floor and folded in half (with a not particularly sharp crease) so that it completely fills the raised floor area. Then there's an extra thinner panel (fabric one side, rubbery the other) maybe about half the length which can fold out over the bumper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Moving on - my view on the S3
Replies
3
Views
1K
Bells
Bells
danielos77
Play video on the MMI?
Replies
9
Views
5K
DJAlix
DJAlix
S
playing videos on the MMI
Replies
2
Views
2K
Itguy
Itguy
A
Video files on the MMI
Replies
2
Views
21K
ak47
A
steeve
On the brink..........
Replies
15
Views
2K
Cumbrian_bob
C
Top
Back